Nothing Too Hard

Jeremiah had been a prophet for nearly forty years by the time Jerusalem came under attack by the Babylonians. He had long been proclaiming a message of repentance, but the people continued to ignore his words. Now, the enemy had surrounded Jerusalem and the end was near. In this time of great turmoil, God told Jeremiah to purchase a field from his cousin.

This was a strange request but Jeremiah obediently purchased the field. However, he soon began to question God's reasoning: "See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city? Though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, You say to me, 'Buy the field'" (Jeremiah 32:24,25). Jeremiah had been a prophet for many years. He had been given the privilege of talking directly with God, but this command just didn't make sense. Why should he purchase a field when the enemy was invading and taking prisoners?

God answered Jeremiah with a simple, yet challenging, question.

Jeremiah 32:27
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?"

Yes, the enemy had invaded the land and would soon overrun the city of Jerusalem. But God's plan was for the people to one day return: "I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in My furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be My people and I will be their God" (Jeremiah 32:37-38). Jeremiah's field was to be a reminder that God would one day restore His people - a reminder that He could be trusted even in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

We often have a difficult time seeing how all the pieces of God's plan fit together. He leads us down a path and we fail to see the purpose - especially when the enemy begins to attack. We want to fight back, but God says to patiently trust Him and pray. We want to determine a solution and solve the problem, but God says to love Him with all our heart and share His love with others.

The times in which we are most tested and pressed down ought to be the times of greatest growth and closeness with our Heavenly Father. When it seems we have no where else to turn, we ought to rejoice and trust Him even more! Let's put our life firmly in His Hands and submit to His guidance - even when we may not see where we are going or how we will get there. Let's trust His ways and always remember...for God, there is NOTHING too hard!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****
Jan 30 Exodus 10:1 - 12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalms 25:1-11; Proverbs 6:6-11

Spiritual Wisdom And Understanding

Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to show that Jesus is sufficient to supply every need of the believer. In the opening verses, Paul wrote that the Colossians had a reputation for great faith in Jesus Christ - their love, hope, and hunger for the Gospel was bearing fruit and had been growing "since the day you heard it and understood God's grace" (Colossians 1:6).

Paul was thankful for their strong faith, but he wanted them to have even more and was committed to praying for their continued growth; "We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1:9).

Paul then explained the purpose of his prayer.

Colossians 1:10-12
"We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father."

Though God's gracious gift of Salvation is free, the cost is high. We can do nothing to earn or maintain this gift besides believe in His Son; but the faith through which His grace flows is a faith committed to Him without reservation, prepared to follow anywhere He leads, and willing to honor Him in all we do.

Paul didn't pray for the details of an honoring life; rather, he prayed for what truly produces change: "the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding." We never please God by focusing on specific activities, we please Him by drawing near and allowing His blessings to flow in and through our life. This is a life which bears fruit and is filled with endurance, patience, and thankfulness.

The God honoring life is available for us today...regardless of our circumstances. But we must draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and hunger for a better understanding of His will. We must long for His presence and continue to grow in love and faith. God has infinitely more to give and will pour His blessings upon those who continue to seek Him with all their heart.

Dear Lord, we pray that You will give us a continued passion for You and an increased hunger for Your Word. We pray that You will strengthen our faith and use our life for Your glory. Heavenly Father, we pray that we will abandon ourselves to You and that You will fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****
Jan 26 Exodus 2:11 - 3:22; Matthew 17:10-27; Psalms 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14
Jan 27 Exodus 4:1 - 5:21; Matthew 18:1-22; Psalms 22:19-31; Proverbs 5:15-21
Jan 28 Exodus 5:22 - 7:25; Matthew 18:23 - 19:12; Psalms 23:1-6; Proverbs 5:22-23
Jan 29 Exodus 8:1 - 9:35; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalms 24:1-10; Proverbs 6:1-5

Grace In Others

In the last two messages, we've considered the grace of God in our Salvation as well as in our daily Christian walk. Anytime we add requirements to faith, we have strayed from the true gospel message. We certainly need to be challenged as to what faith really means and how a saving faith will manifest itself in our life, but we must never walk away from Salvation by grace through faith alone.

Galatians 1:6-8
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"

This is a serious call...one we cannot ignore. We are challenged in the strongest of terms to continue walking according to the true gospel.

We usually begin this walk by focusing on our own life. We slowly take our eyes off of what we can do and look more upon what Christ has already done; "He must become greater, I must become less" (John 3:30). But there remains another step we must begin to take. This important step is to recognize that the grace which pulled us out of the slimy pit and set our feet on solid ground (Psalm 40:2) is the same grace which works in the life of others. We know we can do nothing to earn or add to our Salvation, but how often do we place "requirements" on those around us?

How often do we inadvertently create lists of what a true Christian must do? True Christians must dress and talk a certain way, listen to an approved list of music, watch an approved list of movies, and drink only an approved list of beverages. Our churches tend to have lists which can include quality of clothing, length of hair, style of worship music, or involvement in certain "sins" about which the Bible is absolutely silent. Sure there are extremes in every category which are clearly outside the will of God; but there is a wide range which, though it may make us uncomfortable, belongs to the grace of God. Our walk with God begins with His grace and must continue by His grace.

We must all strive to follow Christ in a completely surrendered obedience; but in walking down this path, we must never pull anyone from the true gospel by requiring obedience to our list. We are saved by grace through faith and faith alone - and "we" includes ALL our Brothers and Sisters who have trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. Let's follow hard in His grace and diligently seek to recognize God's transforming power at work as He continues to pour out His grace in others.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****
Jan 25 Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13 - 17:9; Psalms 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6

His Amazing Grace

In the message "Strong In His Grace" we considered God's grace in the process of Salvation and saw we can do nothing to earn a right standing in His eyes. Our Heavenly Father freely gave and poured out His love when He sent Jesus; "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God graciously gave us His Son and said, "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). We are allowed into an eternal relationship with God because of His grace and are strongly exhorted to live each day knowing our relationship is maintained by the same grace in which it began, not by anything we do or accomplish.

There are many things we are called to do as a Child of God, many ways to serve and honor our Heavenly Father, many ways to be obedient and seek after holiness. But we can NEVER fall into the trap of thinking, even for a moment, that what we do adds to our Salvation by grace. As much as faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for our Salvation, faith in Jesus Christ is also absolutely sufficient.

Paul delivered this message in many of his letters, but nowhere as strong as in his letter to the Galatian churches. He had preached the message of Salvation by grace, but they had been led into a false teaching which said they must earn their Salvation by first submitting to the Old Testament Law. Paul warned that if we fall into this same trap, "Christ will be of no value to you at all" (Galatians 5:2). There is value in the things we do, but the value is not in the religious activity or product we produce; rather, the value is in the true faith in our heart which ought to motivate ALL we seek to accomplish.

Galatians 5:6
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

We show our love for God through worship, thanksgiving, prayer, study, obedience, and faithful service; and we acknowledge His saving grace with a humble spirit which does not allow us to become puffed up or feel deserving of our Salvation. We demonstrate our love for others as we refuse to cause harm, in word or deed, refuse to harbor unforgiveness, and actively look for opportunities to serve. And we show an understanding of God's grace as we express our love to others without requiring them to earn our love or even love us in return.

Let's receive His grace with a thankful heart, knowing we bring nothing to the cross besides our sin which He then takes away. Let's trust only in His grace, given to us through faith, and express our faith with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength as we love Him and love one another. Let's begin to live this life like we truly understand His amazing grace.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 24 Genesis 48:1 - 49:33; Matthew 15:29 - 16:12; Psalms 20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27

Strong In His Grace

When we are brought to the point of belief - the point where we see our sin, desire to change, and acknowledge God's Son as our only way to eternal life - we ask, in faith, for Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Savior. At that very moment, the grace of God abounds, His Spirit transforms our heart and He picks us up as His child: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The moment of true Salvation is without question the most significant event in our Christian life. In that moment, we are "born again" (John 3:7) and become a "new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) through the power of the Holy Spirit; "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:6). In fact, the moment of Salvation is so significant that even if we seem to stumble through every step past that point, we still have reason to rejoice with every breath - we are children of the King and will spend all eternity in His glorious Kingdom.

Our journey with God can indeed be rocky. As we continue down His path we are to strive for holiness and purposeful worship in our life. We are to diligently seek Him and "learn the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:12). We must learn to "trust in the Lord with all our heart" (Proverbs 3:5), but we must also remember that "apart from Me {Jesus}, you can do NOTHING" (John 15:5). The reality of this journey is that if we strive for anything in our own strength, we are certainly destined to stumble and fall.

2 Timothy 2:1
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

This verse means we must continue to trust in His grace and in His grace alone. We did nothing to earn our Salvation, and we can do nothing to maintain our right standing before God - nothing besides belief in His Son; "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3).

We are saved by the grace of God and we must continue to live by this same grace: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught" (Colossians 2:6). Our Heavenly Father will determine our path to holiness, purpose, contentment, and trust - and His grace will equip us with all we need for the journey.

Let's completely trust in the saving grace of Jesus! Let's apply the strength of His grace today in every trial and temptation. Let's live a life of pure and holy devotion by always remaining strong in His grace.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 23 Genesis 46:1 - 47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalms 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19

Be Prepared To Follow

We are often reminded of our need to pray and study God's Word. These essential disciplines allow us to abide in the presence of God and "hear" when He calls; they are also necessary for strengthening our faith in order to obediently follow where He leads.

God's Word encourages us that when He calls, He also provides the tools to accomplish our assigned task; "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). And we are comforted that as we respond, we will never be alone; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). But God's call also carries responsibility. His call says He has made His choice - He has chosen us to take part in His wonderful plan; and, in faith, we must respond.

After delivering many of God's messages to the people of Israel - calling them to repent and return to the worship of the One True God - the prophet Jeremiah became impatient with God's timing: "I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?" (Jeremiah 12:1). Jeremiah complained about how long he had to wait for the wicked to be punished. He was following God and calling others to do the same, but the ungodly seemed to continue living the "good" life. Sounds much like our complaints today. But God's response was not what Jeremiah was hoping to receive.

Jeremiah 12:5
"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"

God told Jeremiah that the situation in Israel was going to get worse in the coming days, and He asked Jeremiah if he was truly ready for the challenge. Jeremiah had been called to be God's messenger and now was not the time to complain. This was the time to be a soldier and trust with ALL his heart; it was a time to renew his strength and push toward the assigned goal.

Our Heavenly Father dearly loves us and desires an eternity of intimate fellowship. He is a God of great comfort, but He is also our Commanding Officer who challenges us to prepare for the spiritual battles ahead. This world often appears corrupt and unjust, but the conditions of today are preparing us to fight in the trenches of tomorrow. We must trust now more than ever that God chose the right person when He gave us our assignments. He has made His call and promised to provide all the necessary tools at the proper time.

Let's spend more time worshipping at His feet and loving Him with all our heart. Let's rely on His strength and trust His understanding. Let's draw closer to His side and always be prepared to follow.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 19 Genesis 39:1 - 41:16; Matthew 12:46 - 13:23; Psalms 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35
Jan 20 Genesis 41:17 - 42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalms 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6
Jan 21 Genesis 42:18 - 43:34; Matthew 13:47 - 14:13; Psalms 18:16-34; Proverbs 4:7-10
Jan 22 Genesis 44:1 - 45:28; Matthew 14:14-36; Psalms 18:35-50; Proverbs 4:11-13

Free In The Fire

King Nebuchadnezzar had made a large statue of gold and commanded that everyone must worship the statue whenever they heard the royal music - they must worship the statue, or face terrible consequences! "Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace" (Daniel 3:6).

Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were determined to live with an uncompromising faith. They believed God's Word and obeyed His commands: "You shall have no other gods before Me...you shall not bow down to them or worship them" (Exodus 20:3,5). These three young Jewish men took a stand and refused to worship the golden statue. Their devotion to God was greater than their fear of the fire; "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it...But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

Nebuchadnezzar was furious and followed through on his threat: "He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace" (Daniel 3:19-20). But when Nebuchadnezzar looked inside the furnace, he was amazed by what he saw.

Daniel 3:25
"Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

As they were facing the fire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saw no chance of escape, but they placed their complete trust in God - a trust which would not falter even if they were burned. But rather than being burned by the fire, these three men were freed from their binding ropes and walked with "a son of the gods," who many believe is an Old Testament reference to Jesus Christ! (The KJV renders this verse "...like the Son of God.") In their time of greatest need, God comforted these young men and set them free.

The fires in our life WILL come. The heat will seem intense! But we must not fear, or abandon what we know to be true. Our faith is ALWAYS refined and made stronger by fire; "the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:3). Fire will always teach us to trust more deeply and worship more sincerely. When we really believe this truth, it will become possible to actually rejoice in the face of fire. We can rejoice because we KNOW He is in complete and absolute control of every area of our life - this is true freedom! Let's walk with a bold faith, knowing our Father is there to comfort and protect us, knowing He will strengthen us and set us free in the fire.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 18 Genesis 37:1 - 38:30; Matthew 12:22-45; Psalms 16:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-32

How To Guard His Deposit

In the message "Guard The Good Deposit" we saw the importance of protecting what God places on our heart. He often gives us moments of Divine intimacy as a taste of the life He desires for us - a life of continual passion for God; a life where all our thoughts, words, and deeds become an act of worship.

As these moments fade, we either take definite steps to follow God's call, or we allow our heart to slowly drift away. The nature of this world is to pull us from what God desires and cause us to forget He has even called. So how do we really "guard" what God has given and truly accept His invitation to draw near?

Deuteronomy 11:17-20
"Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gate."

When God called the children of Israel, He knew they would face the same difficulties we face today: "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them" (Deuteronomy 11:16). He said the values of the world must never distract from our primary duty to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5).

God told His chosen people that the best way to remain near to Him was to remain near to His Word through disciplined reading, teaching, discussing, and applying. When our lives are completely immersed in His Word, the "enticements" of the world lose their power and no longer pull us from God's path.

But His desire was never for us to stop with outward disciplines. While disciplines are somewhat useful in themselves, the desired end is always for His Word to be written on our heart and for our thoughts to remain with Him all through our day! Only as He is allowed to truly live through us will our lives become a complete sacrifice of worship.

If this is the life we desire, then we must begin with a disciplined approach to God's Word. We must become immersed in His Word such that His truth becomes a part of every portion of our day. God will soon reward us with a more intimate relationship as His Word becomes written on our heart and our thoughts turn more toward Christ. The world will still try to pull us away, but it will no longer succeed; for we will be walking in His Presence and will have learned how to guard His deposit.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 17 Genesis 35:1 - 36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalms 15:1-5; Proverbs 3:21-26

Guard The Good Deposit

In the messages "Covenant of Worship" and "A Broken Covenant" we were encouraged to make a covenant - which we resolve not to break - to worship God with all our heart for the rest of our days. I pray we accept this challenge and make a decision to commit our lives to Him without any reservation.

When God brings us to this point of greater commitment and surrender, we have a wonderful reason to rejoice; but we also have an obligation to protect and nurture what He has planted in our heart. He has called us to draw closer and spend more time in His presence - to join Him in a more intimate and loving relationship - but the enemy is hard at work trying to destroy the change which has begun.

2 Timothy 1:13-14
"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

Every so often on our Christian walk, there comes a time of special closeness with God. This closeness may come as the result of a new understanding of His Word where we see His character like never before. It may come during a solitary time of prayer or while worshiping with many other believers, through a powerful speaker or inspirational writing. Each time this occurs, God is depositing a little truth into our life which says: I am the way, draw nearer and follow Me more.

We know when God calls us in this manner. We know His truth! We know He is lighting the only true way, and we honestly desire to follow. But then we're back at work with deadlines to meet, people to see, or kids to feed. Soon, the busyness of our everyday "normal" life has consumed our thoughts, and God's deposit has begun to fade. This should not be!

We must establish disciplines which enable us to hear God's message and then help us keep His message at the forefront of our thoughts all through the day. These disciplines will vary for different people. Some may need to wake up earlier to have a time which is quiet; others may need to change their work habits or the condition of their work environment. But regardless of our hectic pace, we ALL need to simply talk with God more and worship more at His feet. This must become our highest priority.

We cannot allow His gifts to be destroyed or forgotten. We should never allow the frustrations of the past, the pulls of the present or the desires of the future, steal the gifts entrusted to us today. Let's make the necessary changes and boldly draw near without hesitation. Let's praise Him for His gifts, and, "with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us," guard the good deposit.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 16 Genesis 32:13 - 34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalms 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20

Continue To Seek

As Jesus was speaking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, He said, "no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3). He then explained being "born again" as a spiritual birth which occurs when we believe; "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). EVERYONE who will spend eternity in the Presence of God must be born of the Spirit - it is impossible to be a Child of God without being "born again."

This spiritual birth is part of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus and was revealed over 500 years before Christ through the prophet Ezekiel; "I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Paul referred to the spiritual birth as becoming "a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17), but it is most often referred to simply as being saved; "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).

The process of spiritual birth is relatively easy to explain: God reaches down and transforms our heart by the power of His Spirit. However, the exact events which lead to the spiritual birth (and when the birth actually occurs) remain somewhat a mystery. On one hand, God's Word is very simple and clear; "Whoever believes will be saved." But understanding what it means to really believe can be difficult. We can talk about submission, obedience, sacrifice, love, or the basic faith of a child, but these will always fall short of an adequate definition of belief.

Only God can save: only He is fit to judge, and He alone can look into the innermost part of our heart and determine true belief. All we can do is seek Him with all our heart...and trust He will be found.

Matthew 7:7-8
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Our Salvation was initiated by God when Jesus came to earth and died as a perfect sacrifice for our sin. He chose us for an intimate and eternal relationship when His Holy Spirit began to call us near. And, if we will but answer the call and begin to seek His face, He will be found. In an instant, which He alone determines according to His perfect timing, He will transform our heart and adopt us as His Child.

We may not be able to explain or even fully understand true belief, but if there is any call of God on our heart we CAN ask, seek, and knock. God never hides or runs away; "He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:27). He is waiting for us to reach out and call on His Name. Today, let's trust He will be found as we give Him all our heart and continue to seek.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 12 Genesis 26:17 - 27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalms 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10
Jan 13 Genesis 28:1 - 29:35; Matthew 9:18-38; Psalms 11:1-7; Proverbs 3:11-12
Jan 14 Genesis 30:1 - 31:16; Matthew 10:1-26; Psalms 12:1-8; Proverbs 3:13-15
Jan 15 Genesis 31:17 - 32:12; Matthew 10:27 - 11:6; Psalms 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18

A Broken Covenant

In the message "A Covenant of Worship" we were encouraged to make a covenant to love the Lord and worship Him with all our heart. This covenant must be viewed as a pledge or binding agreement which directs all our actions. God gives many examples of covenants in His Word, and nowhere does He allow for a covenant with half-hearted commitment.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai. He promised special blessings if they would set themselves apart and worship Him with all their heart. But the people failed to honor their commitment - they worshiped other gods and disregarded His commands.

After several hundred years of willful disobedience, God sent the prophet Hosea to remind the Israelites of the pledge they once made and to reveal their unfaithfulness.

Hosea 6:6-7
"I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Like Adam, they have broken the covenant - they were unfaithful to Me."

Hosea was able to deliver this message with great passion because he understood the pain of unfaithfulness. God had called Hosea to marry a woman who, though she made a covenant of marriage, left him to live as an adulteress with another man. Hosea could literally cry to his Israelite Brothers of the hurt they were causing God with their spiritual adultery; he fully knew how it felt when the one you love turns away to love another.

The covenant we make with our Heavenly Father must not be taken lightly. He loves us dearly and gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sin. And, to those who believe, He has given His Spirit; "with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). God is committed to this covenant and, though He forgives us when we fall short, He expects and deserves commitment in return.

When we turn from sin and believe Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, He promises forgiveness; we promise to trust and follow where He leads. He promises a clean heart; we promise our heart will always be His. He promises eternity in His presence; we promise to worship Him with every breath!

Have we truly entered into a covenant relationship with the Living God? And if so, are we being faithful to this covenant? Are we seeking His direction, or are we following our own path and our own desires? We must commit to love, honor, cherish...and follow, until the end of this life brings us fully into His presence. Let's remain faithful and true to our promises. Let's renew our commitment to obedience and worship, and refuse to come to the end of this journey with a broken covenant.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 11 - Genesis 24:52 - 26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalms 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8

Covenant of Worship

In the message "An Unknown God" we were encouraged to live a life of sincere love and faithful service while we worship a God we truly know and adore. But this type of consistent life, where our daily activities match what we profess to believe, does not come easy or initially feel natural. Living such a life requires a firm commitment and a determined perseverance.

King Asa was the great-grandson of Solomon and led the southern kingdom of Judah about 900 years before Christ. He began his reign with ten years of peace because he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God" (2 Chronicles 14:2). Asa took definite action to remove the idols and places of false worship from the country and commanded his people to "seek the Lord and to obey His commands" (2 Chronicles 14:4).

When Judah was invaded by a foreign army, Asa realized he was greatly outnumbered with little hope of victory. As he went into battle, his faith was strengthened while calling on God: "Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You" (2 Chronicles 14:11).

After God granted them victory on the battlefield, the people gathered in Jerusalem to solidify their commitment by making a covenant to follow God.

2 Chronicles 15:12,15
"They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and He was found by them."

Every child of God has a deep hunger for a more committed life. Once we have answered God's call and begun our journey with Him, we will not truly be at peace until His praise fills every area of our life. But this requires we establish priorities which allow us to actually spend time getting to know Him, His ways and His love.

Our Heavenly Father longs for us to abide in His presence: He rejoices when He is found by those who seek Him in a committed life of worship. He even promises to help those who begin down a committed path; "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Our time on this earth is very, very short. Let's not waste another day by aimlessly wandering through life, allowing the concerns of this world to choke off our relationship with God. Let's live with purpose and eagerly commit to seek Him with all our heart and soul - to seek Him "wholeheartedly." Let's make the decision today to enter into an eternal covenant of worship.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 10 - Genesis 23:1-24:51; Matthew 8:1-17; Psalms 9:13-20; Proverbs 3:1-6

An Unknown God

When Paul was on his second missionary journey he came to the city of Athens, which was inhabited by people who loved to worship and talk about their worship. They worshipped every conceivable god of their day and made sure no god was left out.

Acts 17:22-23
"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.'"

The people in Athens worshipped gods like Zeus, Hermes, and Diana. And to ensure they did not overlook any god, they also gave their worship to a god they did not know.

Today, many of us go through our life worshipping such gods as Pleasure, Leisure, Entertainment, Security, Power, and Wealth. Then, usually with much less intensity and commitment, we "worship" the Creator of the Universe. But our worship often becomes something we schedule and not something we live. We take part in religious activity, but have no idea how to make the Almighty God an integral part of our everyday life. We attend church services, but never give a thought to actually loving God or asking Him for guidance and direction. We go through the motions of worship, but our hearts are cold and far from the One True God.

We ALL must examine what we believe, and then live a life consistent with that belief. Many people profess belief in God - even the God of the Bible - but have no idea what this belief means or Who they really believe. They believe and then attempt to worship a God they do not know. If Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession on our behalf - if He will one day return and take us to be with Him for all eternity - then He certainly deserves more than our casual worship and the left-overs of our time.

Our Heavenly Father has been calling us back to an intimate fellowship ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden; and His message has remained the same: "Enjoy My creation, but give Me ALL your heart." He must be given sole possession, without any competition. The true Creator of the Universe will never accept just being one of our many "gods."

Let's proclaim the absolute and unchanging truth and encourage one another to "wholeheartedly obey the form of teaching to which you were entrusted" (Romans 6:17). Let's resolve to live a consistent life - a life of sincere love and faithful service - a life which no longer worships an unknown God.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 9 - Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:18-29; Psalms 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:18-22

Who Taught Us To Walk

In the message "Finish The Race" we were encouraged to "run" toward the finish line; but we were also reminded that God's race takes place within our heart as we learn to trust and love Him more and more. His race is not in what we do but in who we are, and who we are becoming, as we do ALL to bring Him glory and honor. One of the biggest stumbling blocks which keeps us from running a "successful" race is the complacency caused by forgetting what God has already done in our life.

Not everyone's circumstances are what they might prefer, but each of us are on a wonderful journey which began when God sent His Spirit to open our eyes to the truth and called us to be with Him for all eternity through faith in His Son. The beginning of our journey ought to be a clear indication of God's miraculous grace and Guiding Hand. And as we look back on the path we have traveled, we ought to recognize the many miracles which brought us to where we are today; but many miracles we fail to acknowledge or understand...and most we have simply forgotten.

God's children have always had a hard time with recognizing and remembering. The northern kingdom of Israel had been in rebellion for almost two hundred years when God called Hosea to be a prophet. The people had created their own form of worship and had long forgotten how much God loved them and how much He had already done to guide and protect.

Hosea 11:3-4
"It was I {God} who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them."

In this passage, Ephraim refers to the nation of Israel. God was reminding the people how He provided for all their needs as He led them out of Egyptian slavery, into the promised land of Canaan. But this passage is very applicable to each of us today. Whether we see His Hand or not, God has been at work guiding us in many different ways.

None of us are at our final destination, but each of us are where we are because God loves us dearly and wants to draw us ever closer to Himself. Let's not create our own form of worship where we give Him the leftovers of our heart. He created us, saved us, and brought us to where we are today - He deserves our ALL.

We must turn our eyes back to God and praise Him for His continuous provision and His loving promise to finish the work He has begun in our life; "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6). Let's praise Him for His Guiding Hand, and, as we run, let's always remember it was God who taught us to walk.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****


Jan 5 - Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalms 5:1-12; Proverbs 1:24-28

http://www.gdwm.org/Resources/readingplans.htm

http://gdwmboard.org/eve

Finish The Race

Paul was returning to Jerusalem at the end of his third and final missionary journey. By this time in his ministry, Paul had been a Christian for nearly twenty years. Twenty years since Jesus called Paul, "My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Twenty years of faithful service, and now... "In every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" (Acts 20:23).

Paul was returning home, but his life was not going to be easy. He knew there were many trials ahead, but his life had a purpose far beyond his immediate surroundings.

Acts 20:24
"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

It was several more years before Paul wrote; "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:12); yet here, when facing certain hardship, Paul showed he had already learned the secret. The particular circumstances in Paul's life had become of minor importance. He knew his contentment was not based on current events, but on bringing glory and honor to God. His life had a wonderful purpose even in the face of great adversity and harsh conditions.

We were all created for the same purpose as Paul - we were created to bring glory and honor to God! Our specific tasks may differ and change from time to time, but we each have the same unchanging purpose. Everything we do, say, and think should bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father!

God's race is run in the deepest part of our heart, not in the flurry of activity. Running well is not defined by doing more; rather, we run a "successful" race as we do every little task we are given with the complete and absolute devotion of our heart.

His race is long and often difficult. There are many distractions which seek to slow us down and even pull us from the track; and at times we may even wonder why we're running. But being a participant in God's eternal race is infinitely more rewarding than standing on the sidelines and simply watching! He has called us to run - and to run well!!

We must run the path God places before us with all the strength He provides, and within the sure and calming protection of His grace. Let's run with the motivation of bringing Him glory and honor by loving Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let's continue to run well, and with a burning desire to finish the race.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries


**** Reading Plan ****

Jan 4 - Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalms 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23

Reading Plans

Discussion Board

Resolve To Be Transformed

What will we do different this year? There are more resolutions made during the first week of January than at any other time of the year, more diets are begun and more attempts at various forms of self-improvement. I'm not really big on resolutions but several years ago I wrote about making a resolution related to running. That resolution helped me to run more miles in one year than I have run in all other years combined. I'm praying that a different kind of resolution will motivate me this year.

Most good-intended resolutions will soon be forgotten, but some will make lasting changes for the better. If it takes the commitment of a "New Year" resolution to break free of a bad habit, restore a broken relationship or improve your health, then by all means resolve! But as we reflect on the past and excitedly plan for the future, let's focus our effort on changes which have eternal significance. Jesus said it well as He admonished the Pharisees: "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. First clean the inside...and then the outside also will be clean" (Matthew 23:25-26).

The Bible speaks about the initial transformation which occurs when we become a "new creation" in Christ. But it also speaks about the on-going transformation as we draw closer to God and achieve the peace and contentment found only in His presence.

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

When I began this ministry I focused much of my time on reading the Bible. In the first five years I was able to read the entire Bible three times. This was a special time of increasing my understanding of God and being drawn near to His presence. Since that time, I have continued to study, but I have not been as disciplined with simply reading and being guided by God's Word. I would therefore like to invite you to join me in a resolution to read through the Bible in 2012. I will be using the One Year Bible reading plan which I have posted on my web site as Reading Plan Number 5 at:

http://www.gdwm.org/Resources/readingplans.htm

At the end of each message I will include the daily reading. Feel free to print the reading plan and read together in community with others around the world. I will also print the readings as a daily topic on our message board at:

http://gdwmboard.org/eve

The message board can be used to post comments, reflections, or questions. I believe this will be useful for many. I know it will be useful for me!

On our list of things to do different this next year, I pray we include more time with God in prayer, more time in His Word, more time loving Him with ALL our heart, seeking His presence, and earnestly desiring to know, and do, His will. Let our prayer for one another be that we draw ever closer to our Heavenly Father and experience His love new and fresh every day. In this new year, let's make eternal resolutions as we resolve to be transformed!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

****Reading Plan ****

Jan 1 - Genesis 1:1-2:25; Matthew 1:1-2:12; Psalms 1:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6
Jan 2 - Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Psalms 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9
Jan 3 - Genesis 5:1-7:24; Matthew 3:7-4:11; Psalms 3:1-8; Proverbs 1:10-19